Prevalence and Pattern of Appendicitis Presentations Among Adolescents in Kano State: A Five-Year Retrospective Study

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies worldwide, yet its clinical presentation in Nigerian adolescents often deviates from classical descriptions documented in Western literature. This study examines the prevalence, clinical patterns, and outcomes of appendicitis among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years presenting at a secondary health facility in Kano State, North West Nigeria, between 2019 and 2023. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using hospital records of 210 patients. Variables analyzed include age, sex, duration of symptoms before presentation, white blood cell count, imaging findings, and operative outcomes. The Alvarado scoring system was applied to evaluate diagnostic accuracy in this population. Results indicate a male predominance and a high rate of perforation at presentation, attributed largely to delayed care-seeking behavior and prior self-medication with antibiotics. Misdiagnosis by primary care providers was also identified as a contributing factor to late presentations. The study recommends community health education on the early signs of appendicitis and targeted training for primary healthcare workers in rural Kano to improve referral timelines. Strengthening diagnostic imaging availability in secondary facilities is also advised. These findings contribute baseline data to regional surgical epidemiology and support calls for improved emergency surgical preparedness in North West Nigeria. Keywords: appendicitis, adolescents, perforation, Kano, emergency surgery